Articles Tagged ‘L for Later - Brake the road safety charity’

Road safety charity Brake is today calling for compulsory lessons on rural roads for learner drivers, as part of a graduated licensing system, to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.

In 2015, the last year for which statistics are available, 120 young drivers lost their lives in crashes - 80 per cent of these occurring on rural roads, 16 per cent on urban roads and four per cent on motorways[1].

Jason Wakeford, Director of Campaigns for Brake, the road safety charity, said: "High speeds, sharp bends, narrow lanes, risky overtaking and the presence of vulnerable road users like cyclists, make rural roads the most dangerous by far. The combination of rural roads and novice drivers is lethal - a staggering 80 per cent of all young car driver fatalities occur in rural locations.

"Brake is calling for a total overhaul of the learning to drive system to help cut fatalities and injuries. A graduated licensing system, including a minimum learning period, mandatory training on rural roads and restrictions for newly-qualified drivers - such as a zero drink-drive limit - will allow new drivers to build up more skills and experience over a longer period of time.

"This approach has dramatically reduced road casualties in countries including Australia and New Zealand and could save some 400 lives a year if implemented in the UK.

"Brake is also calling for a review of rural speed limits and for 'Voluntary Intelligent Speed Adaptation', which helps drivers keep within the limit, to be fitted as standard to new cars. There is also the need for better and more affordable public transport, so fewer young people see starting driving in their teens as a necessity."

Brake is a national road safety and sustainable transport charity, founded in 1995, that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies.

We do this through national campaigns, community education, services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

Learner drivers will be able to have lessons on motorways, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has announced. The changes will come into effect from 2018, when learners will be allowed on motorways with an approved driving instructor in a dual control car. Commenting on the announcement, Jason Wakeford, Director of Campaigns for Brake, the road safety charity, said: "Young drivers are involved in a high proportion of crashes that kill and seriously injure because of inexperience and the tendency of some to take risks. Improved training before and after getting a licence is essential to improving road safety.

"Rather than allowing learner drivers on the motorway, there should instead be a requirement for all newly-qualified drivers to receive mandatory lessons, including on the motorway, once they've passed their test. There needs to be much wider reform to the learning to drive system, including a minimum learning period and restrictions for newly-qualified drivers, such as a late night curfew. This graduated driver licensing approach has helped dramatically reduce road casualties in countries including Australia, and could save lives here in the UK too.

"There should also be better access to affordable public transport so fewer young people see starting driving in their teens as a necessity."

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About Brake

Brake is a national road safety and sustainable transport charity, founded in 1995, that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies.

We do this through national campaigns, community education, services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Follow Brake on Twitter, Facebook, or The Brake Blog.e not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

Many families have concerns about road safety, from being able to walk and cycle safely in your community - and deciding whether to allow your child to walk or cycle alone - to concerns about teenagers being in danger as passengers or new drivers.

Brake campaigns nationally and regionally, and raises awareness among the public, to stop road deaths and injuries, make our communities safer and greener, and improve support for crash victims. We won't stop until the carnage ends. But we need your help..

There are many ways to support our campaigns, such as dropping a quick note to your MP, signing a petition or running activities in your community. Each page below has simple actions you can take. You can also find advice on campaigning in your community here.

L for LaterA campaign to help young people be safer as drivers and passengers.

Pace for PeopleA campaign to reduce and enforce the speed limit in our towns, in order to reduce casualties, reduce fear of cycling and walking, reduce pollution and improve health through active travel.

Place for PeopleA campaign to give people in the UK space to move in ways that are safe, green, healthy and fair.

Modern VehiclesA campaign that embraces developments in vehicle technology that can save both lives and the planet, and calls on developments to be implemented in line with Brake's vision of safe, sustainable, healthy and fair transport.

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Every 30 seconds someone, somewhere in the world is killed in a road crash. Brake works to stop road deaths and injuries by campaigning for safer roads; supports people bereaved or injured in road crashes; and raises public awareness for sustainable transport. Registered charity No. 1093244